Whew. Lots of college guys on the team. I’m certainly excited to see that, but this team definitely underwhelms me. I think they’ll be good at the back as Miller is a top shelf goalie, and Thomas was the Vezina winner this year, not to mention they have many solid defensemen, but I don’t see where the goals come from. I am absolutely shocked that Brian Gionta wasn’t on the list given his speed (although the fact that the olympics will be played on an NHL rink might have something to do with it) and Blake Wheeler. Wheeler had a great rookie season for the Bruins, and honestly would have been one of the better goal scorers on this team. I’m also surprised that Keith Ballard didn’t get an invite. There isn’t a terribly obvious person to take off the list, but Gilbert could go in my opinion. No Jordan Leopold or John Michael Liles, a personal favorite of mine, was mildly surprising as well.

No matter who they took, the US is going to struggle to even have a shot at medaling in Vancouver.

The United States still hasn’t won a medal at the world championships since 2006. With 11 minutes left Sweden broke a 2-2 tie and added an empty netter at the end to make it 4-2. Jack Johnson (Michigan) and Joe Pavelski (Wisconsin) scored for the Americans. While the US finished fourth in the tournament they moved up to 5th in the world rankings.

29 years after the Miracle on Ice, the US had their run at the World Championships stopped by Russia, 3-2. Dustin Brown and Kyle Okposo (Minnesota) scored for the United States. Ron Hainsey (UMass-Lowell) and John-Michael Liles (Michigan State) assisted on the Okposo goal. Robert Esche had 20 saves.

The US will take on Sweden for the bronze on Sunday, while Canada is Russia’s gold medal opponent.

I’m a day late on this, but with finals coming up and the NHL playoffs getting into full swing (not to mention the Scrubs series finale) I’ve had a lot on my plate lately.

For the first time since 2004, the United States will have a shot at a medal in the World Championships after defeating pesky Finland 3-2. In the last 8 meetings between the two countries, the United States had gone 0-7-1. Robert Esche stopped 47 of 49 shots and was named the Americans player of the game. Dustin Brown, TJ Oshie (North Dakota) and Ryan Suter (Wisconsin) scored for the United States

The US jumped out to a 5-2 lead, but ended up losing 6-5 in OT to the Swedes. John Michael Liles (Michigan State) and Jack Johnson (Michigan) scored for the US, and a trio of former Sioux (TJ Oshie, Jason Blake and Drew Stafford) each had an assist.

Although they lost, the US won the group with 6 points, while Sweden had just 5. The US takes on France (?!) on May Day. Is that some sort of April Fools joke?

The US moved to 2-0 at the World Championships as they blasted Austria 6-1. Robert Esche had 25 saves for the US. Drew Stafford (North Dakota) scored in his second consecutive game. Jason Blake (North Dakota), Matt Niskanen (Minnesota-Duluth) and Lee Stempniak (Dartmouth) were the other former collegians to score. The Kings Dustin Brown was named the player of the game, with a goal and two assists. Colin Wilson (Boston U) had his first point of the tournament, an assist on Stempniak’s goal, and John Michael Liles (Michigan State) also had an assist.

The United States takes on Sweden in their next game, Wednesday night.

The United States struggled, but rallied to defeat Latvia 4-2 in the opener at the World Championships. Maybe we just can’t play them well. If you remember, the US tied Latvia in their opening game of the 2006 Olympics in Torino, Italy. Jack Johnson (LA Kings,Michigan) scored two goals and Drew Stafford (Buffalo Sabres, North Dakota) put one in. Patrick O’Sullivan also scored for the Americans, who obviously struggled to find a rhythm early in the game. They next will take on Austria in another tuneup. Austria got blasted 7-1 by Olympic champion Sweden in their first game.